Two more important games for Santeri Heiskanen's team before the break 

Collalbo, November 3, 2021 - The Rittner Buam will be engaged in two Alps Hockey League matches this week: Thursday at home against Lustenau and Saturday, away against EK Die Zeller Eisbären. After these engagements, the blue-reds will be able to rest for ten days - a break that comes at the right time, given the short bench.

With the absences of Manuel Öhler, Jari Sailio, Lasse Uusivirta and Markus Spinell, the Rittner Buam will definitely have to do without at least four players on Thursday. They could be joined by a few more teammates. "We have other players who are not fit. Who will miss Thursday's game, we will only be able to say for sure after Wednesday's final training", explains Rittner Buam sport director Adolf Insam on the eve of the challenge against the Vorarlberg team.

 Lustenau is in a very good shape at the moment. Mike Flanagan's team has won four of the last five Alps Hockey League games. The team's top scorer is Philipp Koczera, who has scored 21 points in 14 games. Of the 5 games played away from home, the Vorarlberg team won three and last weekend overtook the Rittner Buam in the league standings, occupying the third position. With EHC Lustenau, Santeri Heiskanen's team has a score to settle since last season, when Christopher D'Alvise and his teammates eliminated the South Tyrolean team in the pre-playoffs. Even in the pre-season friendly match of this summer, the Rittner Buam had the worst result, losing 3:4 at the end of the penalties. The first official meeting between the Rittner Buam and EHC Lustenau in this year's championship will take place on Thursday, November 4th at 8 pm at the Ritten Arena.

 Two days later, the blue-reds will be engaged at the ice stadium of Zell am See, where at 7.30 pm they will face the "white bears", currently sixth in the standings with 23 points. The balance of results at home of EK Die Zeller Eisbären is balanced: three victories in six games. Henrik Neubauer and Philipp Putnik, with 19 points each, are the best scorers of the Salzburg team. Before the tenth meeting between the two teams, the statistics are in favor of the Rittner Buam with 7 wins to 2. The last success of Simon Kostner and his teammates against the "white bears" dates back to a month ago, when the five-time Italian champions won 8:2.

 

Alps Hockey League 2021/22

Thursday, November 4, 2021 - 8 pm, Ritten Arena

Rittner Buam - EHC Lustenau

 

Saturday, November 6, 2021 - 7:30 pm, Ice Stadium Zell am See

EK Die Zeller Eisbären - Rittner Buam

 

 The current standings of the Alps Hockey League:

  1. HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 35 points/14 games
  2. Migross Supermarkets Asiago Hockey 33/15
  3. EHC Lustenau 29/14
  4. Rittner Buam 28/13
  5. EC-KAC Future Team 28/19
  6. EK Die Zeller Eisbären 23/13
  7. EC Bregenzerwald 21/11
  8. HC Gherdëina valgardena.it 21/14
  9. EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 19/13
  10. S.G. Cortina Hafro 18/14
  11. Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan 18/12
  12. Red Bull Hockey Juniors 18/17
  13. Steel Wings Linz 17/12
  14. HC Merano Pircher 17/13
  15. SHC Fassa Falcons 12/13
  16. BEMER VEU Feldkirch 8/13
  17. Vienna Capitals Silver 6/14

Credits: Max Pattis